BISC Buddy Mentorship Program

Mission Statement - The BISC Buddy Mentorship Program aims to ease the transition of students from their first year of study at the Bader International Study Centre (BISC) to their second year at Queen’s University’s Kingston campus. Mentors offer a support network by being informed community members that facilitate and encourage positivity and reduce anxiety by hosting activities, providing guidance, and encouraging social interaction.

The BISC Buddy Mentorship Program has been designed to assist students transitioning between their first year as students leaving the Bader International Study Centre, and entering Queen’s University as second year students. The aim of the Program is to mediate a successful transition between students moving between the two academic centres, enabling them to feel supported academically and socially in an inclusive environment.

We encourage new-to-Queen’s second year students to participate in and take advantage of this Program to integrate into their new community. Themes that we recognise as hurdles to students coming to Queen’s part-way through their academic journey include: disconnection with other students in their program, not knowing Queen’s traditions, acronyms commonly used over campus, and not knowing what services, clubs and networks are available to them. The BISC Buddy Mentorship Program forms part of a series of workshops and events designed to address such issues by connecting former BISC students with incoming second year students who spent their first year studying at the BISC.

Mentors are a select group of student leaders who attended the BISC in their first year of undergraduate studies and have completed their second year of undergraduate studies at Queen's University's Kingston campus. They know what it is like to familiarise themselves with a new campus and university environment. They understand the amazing year just experienced, and they really are eager to make sure everyone has a fantastic second year of university.

Mentors work closely with the BISC Admission Office at Queen's and with Student Services at the BISC to help ease the transition from first year at the BISC to second year on the Kingston campus, by providing support for returning BISC students and creating safe social environments to help returning BISC students integrate into the Queen's community.

The Program runs through the Fall and Winter terms and Mentors are dedicated to ensuring that students returning from the Castle to spend their second year at Queen's have an enjoyable and inclusive transition experience. The Program aims to alleviate reverse culture shock by encouraging shared experiences with others who may be going through similar challenges in the new environment. Using the Mentors own experience, returning BISC students will be able to adapt more easily to the new campus, be introduced to the services available to them, integrate into the community, and feel like they have a better understanding of the lingo used and traditions associated with being a Queen's University student.

The support provided by the Buddy Mentorship Program is intended to present students with opportunities to create a social network and community atmosphere via social events organized throughout the academic year as well as through individual meetings.

Returning first year BISC students interested in meeting new people when arriving at Queen’s should join the dedicated Facebook Group as well as connect with the Mentors. Mentors will be available throughout the summer, leading up to the new Fall term, on the Facebook group and email, and will be hosting events and socials throughout the academic year.

For more information about the BISC Buddy Mentorship Program or to get involved with the program e-mail buddies@bisc.queensu.ac.uk